Best Music Movies of 1969

A Michigan farmer and a prospector form a partnership in the California gold country. Their adventures include buying and sharing a wife, hijacking a stage, kidnapping six prostitutes, and turning their mining camp into a boom town. Along the way there is plenty of drinking, gambling, and singing. They even find time to do some creative gold mining.

An enchanting variety special which reunites Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore in song and dance. Numbers include "On The Other Hand", "Life Is Like A Situation Comedy", "Food Medley", "Do You Love Me?". Moore's participation in this special led directly to her being offered her own series by the network . This was the beloved "The Mary Tyler Moore Show".

Taxi dancer, Charity continues to have faith in the human race despite apparently endless disappointments at its hands, and hope that she will finally meet the nice young man to romance her away from her sleazy life.

Johnny Cash at San Quentin was recorded live at San Quentin State Prison on February 24, 1969 and released as an album onJune 16 of that same year. The concert was filmed by Granada Television. Songs performed include Wreck of the Old 97 , I Walk the Line, San Quentin and A Boy Named Sue.

Featuring Don Costa and his Orchestra, this final installment of Frank Sinatra's annual televised specials showcases highlights from his storied career and an early rendition of "My Way," which would go on to become Sinatra's signature song.

Satire about the First World War based on a stage musical of the same name, portraying the "Game of War" and focusing mainly on the members of one family (last name Smith) who go off to war. Much of the action in the movie revolves around the words of the marching songs of the soldiers, and many scenes portray some of the more famous (and infamous) incidents of the war, including the assassination of Duke Ferdinand, the Christmas meeting between British and German soldiers in no-mans-land, and the wiping out by their own side of a force of Irish soldiers newly arrived at the front, after successfully capturing a ridge that had been contested for some time.

Academy Award-honoree Peter O'Toole stars in this musical classic about a prim English schoolmaster who learns to show his compassion through the help of an outgoing showgirl. O'Toole, who received his fourth Oscar-nomination for this performance, is joined by '60s pop star Petula Clark and fellow Oscar-nominee Michael Redgrave.

"On Broadway" featured Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey, both red hot after their respective runs in the smash hit "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway. The special was filmed on the stage of the Wintergarden Theater in New York and originally aired on ABC in 1969. Together the theatrical legends playfully perform some of their most popular hits, including 'A Little Girl from Little Rock,' 'Little Green Apples,' 'If My Friends Could See Me Now,' and 'Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey.' Next, they perform an assortment of familiar showtunes including hits from "Guys and Dolls," "The Music Man," "Hello, Dolly!," and "Fiddler on the Roof." "On Broadway" is an entertaining step back in time.

After getting kicked out of college, Arlo decides to visit his friend Alice for Thanksgiving dinner. After dinner is over, Arlo volunteers to take the trash to the dump, but finds it closed for the holiday, so he just dumps the trash in the bottom of a ravine. This act of littering gets him arrested, and sends him on a bizarre journey that ends with him in front of the draft board.

In this classic 1969 documentary, the Man in Black is captured at his peak, the first of many in a looming roller-coaster career. Fresh on the heels of his Folsom Prison album, Cash reveals the dark intensity and raw talent that made him a country music star and cultural icon. Director Robert Elfstrom got closer than any other filmmaker to Cash, who is seen performing with his new bride June Carter Cash, in a rare duet with Bob Dylan, and behind the scenes with friends, family and aspiring young musicians.

This short film by Les Blank with Skip Gerson features the charismatic legendary blues icon Lightnin' Hopkins sing a beautiful song about a stuttering boy who learns that he can communicate through singing. Also features Billy Bizor on harmonica.

Dr. John Carpenter takes the job of running a health center in a low-income district. He enlists three women to help out who — unbeknownst to him — are actually nuns in street clothes. The church wants to improve the neighborhood but fears that nuns in full habit would not be well received. Unaware of her unavailability, John falls for Sister Michelle, serenading her with his guitar — which, luckily for him, effectively wears away at her religious resolve.

The Beatles, along with guest keyboardist Billy Preston, gave their last live performance on January 30th, 1969, on the roof of the Apple building, at 3 Savile Row. It would become the climax of their documentary film “Let It Be” (1970). The show was recorded onto two eight-track machines in the basement of Apple, by producer George Martin, engineer Glyn Johns and sound recordist Alan Parsons.

The legendary 1969 Rolling Stones concert from Hyde Park, their first following the death of founding member Brian Jones.

A lyrical recreation of Lightnin’ Hopkins’ decision at age eight to stop chopping cotton and start singing for a living.

This animated short is a play on motion set against a background of multi-hued sky. Spheres of translucent pearl float weightlessly in the unlimited panorama of the sky, grouping, regrouping or colliding like the stylized burst of some atomic chain reaction. The dance is set to the musical cadences of Bach, played by pianist Glenn Gould.

Chautauqua manager Walter Hale and his loyal business manager struggle to keep their traveling troupe together in small town America.

Adapted from the book by Charles Tazewell. Michael, a shepherd boy living in Biblical times, finds himself transported to Heaven on his eighth birthday. Michael doesn't fully understand where he is, or why he's there. A guardian angel named Patience is given the task of showing Michael the joys of Heaven and helping him find his place in the Hereafter.

Given the chance to live in a simulated underwater home for a month, a scientist convinces his family to take advantage of the offer. Once the family agrees to move in, underwater mayhem occurs!

The Bonzo Dog Band drive into the country in a truck, unload their equipment in some woods only to find some of it taken away by some children. They eat and play at a party, and the Bonzos play a number of instrumentals in a stable yard, including 'Rockaliser Baby', 'We are Normal' and 'Quiet Walks and Summer Talks'. At the end they are driven away in a white car. Note: No words are sung. Featured alongside the Bonzo Dog Band are the children Amanda, Jennifer and Ashley Lees, Edward Roebuck, and Olivia Smith. (BFI)

G.I.T. on Broadway was a 1969 television special produced by Motown Productions and George Schlatter-Ed Friendly Productions. The special, a follow-up to 1968's successful TCB program, was a musical revue starring Motown's two most popular groups at the time, Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations. Containing primarily Broadway showtunes, the special was taped before a live studio audience in mid-1969 and originally broadcast November 12, 1969 on NBC. Like TCB, the title of the program was derived from an acronym, this one standing for "Gettin' It Together". A soundtrack album for the special, titled On Broadway, was issued the same month the program aired. Though there were no singles released from this album in the states, "The Rhythm of Life" did become a Top 20 hit for the ensemble in Australia. Two months after its release, Diana Ross left The Supremes to start a solo career.

CBS Television with Warwick's guests Burt Bacharach, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Glen Campbell

Ann-Margret starts her journey to Hollywood from the countryside, traversing the Freeway until she gets to Hollywood.

Reggie nominates Moose to run against him for class president, thinking it will be no contest. Meanwhile, Sabrina can't seem to make any friends when she begins school at Riverdale.

The Eurovision Song Contest 1969 was the 14th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Madrid, Spain. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Televisión Española (TVE), the contest was held at the Teatro Real on Saturday 29 March 1969 and was hosted by Spanish television presenter and actress Laurita Valenzuela.

Supershow was intended to be Britain's first music 'super session', with several famous blues, jazz and rock artists of the time coming together to be filmed whilst performing.

From Nashville With Music is another slim plot that gives an excuse for Nashville country stars to perform. The stars are Leo G. Carroll, Marilyn Maxwell, Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Marty Robbins (singing "El Paso"), Buddy Allen, Bill Anderson, Don Gibson, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Cousin Jody, Buck Owens, Bonnie Owens, Charley Pride, Susan Raye, Carl Smith, Wynn Stewart and Tammy Wynette. (from http://archive.tennessean.com/article/20070511/SPECIAL0907/705110501/1969-Movie-From-Nashville-Music)

Debbie Reynolds and hundreds of children, from toddlers to teens, star in a musical salute to the days of the week. They sing rhymes for each day, and note the special qualities attributed to children born on that day.

Over two dozen top-name acts make this 'audio/visual rock thing' come to life in a rock and roll journey that moves all over, from Katmandu to London's Royal Albert Hall; an in-depth, backstage interview with The Rolling Stones' leader Mick Jagger, Plus Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Joe Cocker and many others, along with other features including a Twiggy fashion show.

Mitzi Gaynor opens her second special with a dazzling performance of "Let Go." Additional songs include "Poor Papa," and "What'll I Do." She welcomes guest star Ross Martin (The Wild, Wild, West) for a musical-comedy spoof of Gone with the Wind. Other comedy skits include Mitzi as "The Kid" describing a school recital, and as a Hungarian Gypsy performing "Those Were the Days."

Running away from his evil guardian Mombi, Tip runs off to the Emerald City, where he gets caught up in a palace coup with the Army of Revolt.

Short Polish dance film

This creative educational film by Pieter Van Deusen features a variety of string instruments performed by noted musicians such as Shamim Ahmed Kahn. This film was part of a music film series for Churchill Films: Wind Sounds, Percussion Sounds, and an offshoot film by Pieter with Les Blank entitled Christopher Tree.

Studio tape of special imagery in the form of a giant translucent balls swinging in pendulous motion, with electronic synthesizer music played by Terry Riley.

This creative educational film by Pieter Van Deusen features a variety of wind instruments performed by noted musicians Eli Hollander & Tony Plog. The film crew included Les Blank as 2nd Camera along with assistant Skip Gerson. This film was part of a music film series for Churchill Films: WIND SOUNDS, Percussion Sounds, and an offshoot film by Pieter with Les Blank entitled Christopher Tree.

This creative educational film by Pieter Van Deusen features a variety of percussion instruments performed by noted musicians Bruno Hoffmann, Eric Remsen, and Taranath Rao. The film crew included Les Blank and Skip Gerson. This film was part of a music film series for Churchill Films: Wind Sounds, Percussion Sounds, and an offshoot film by Pieter with Les Blank entitled Christopher Tree.

A television special starring the vocal group The Temptations.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience played at London's Royal Albert Hall, an event which was filmed for a feature length movie "Experience." The movie itself was only ever screened once in public to a small audience in Berkley University, and has since vanished.

This 1969 BBC production is about as close as we can get to a definitive version of Benjamin Britten's PETER GRIMES, one of the greatest 20th Century operas. The story of the individualistic fisherman hounded by his neighbors who believe he murdered his young apprentice packs tremendous emotional power. The compelling narrative is richly enhanced by its subtexts: the lone outsider versus the conformist mob; the dreamer of improbable dreams that lead to tragedy; the artist (dreamer) versus the Philistines, and the homosexual overtones of Grimes' abuse of his child apprentices. Britten is conductor of his work and tenor Peter Pears is Grimes, 25 years after he created the title role at the opera's premiere. As the widow Ellen Orford, soprano Heather Harper is magnificent. Best of all, the sea is an ever-present actor here. When we don't see it in the background it exerts its presence in the abundant visual references to nets, barrels, and other paraphernalia of a seaside fishing village.

An alien decides to visit Earth in order to check out the current pop culture.

This short film follows Country Joe and the Fish on their way to an anti-Vietnam War rally.

There has never been a concert like it. There never could be again. It was July 5th 1969, two days after the death of guitarist Brian Jones, when half a million people gathered in Hyde Park to pay homage to the British group described as the greatest rock'n'roll band in the world. They were The Rolling Stones. The Stones in the Park is a vivid record of this momentous occasion. .. Play List: 1. Midnight Rambler 2. Satisfaction 3. I'm Free 4. I'm Yours She's Mine 5. Jumping Jack Flash 6. Honky Tonk Woman 7. Love In Vain 8. Sympathy For The Devil

The complete collection of Jimi Hendrix's celebrated appearances on The Dick Cavett Show. The Dick Cavett Show marked Jimi's US network television debut and this special documentary, directed by multiple Grammy Award winner Bob Smeaton, features complete live performances of "Izabella", "Machine Gun", and "Hear My Train A Comin'" as well as new interviews with Cavett, Experience band members Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox, and others. Jimi's own insightful interviews with Cavett touched upon a variety of personal and professional issues ranging from his stint as a US Army paratrooper to his celebrated rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Woodstock Festival. These conversations with Cavett helped reveal the humor, passion, and intelligence of the man behind such rock classics as Are You Experienced and Electric Ladyland.

Concert at Danmarks Radio Live in 17 March 1969. Setlist: Communication Breakdown, Dazed and Confused, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, How Many More Times. Notes: TV performance recorded on Danmarks Radio / Danish TV. Broadcast as: Led Zeppelin on Monday May 19th, 1969, rebroadcast on BBC New Years Evening 1989. Released on the official dvd in 2003. -- 01 Communication Breakdown 02 Dazed and Confused 03 Babe I'm Gonna Leave You 04 How Many More Times

A nude solo ballet performed in the streets of LA in the early morning hours.

The Harlem Cultural Festival of that year, which would come to be known as “Black Woodstock,” had, on its surface, little in common with the upstate hootenanny. Held in Harlem at Mount Morris (what is now Marcus Garvey) Park, it was a self-consciously urban affair, a concert series rather than a one-off, and already in its third year.

On November 26, 1968, London's illustrious Royal Albert Hall was jammed to its gilded rafters with rock fans ready for the final concert of what many still consider the greatest band that ever played. That band, Cream, featured the legendary Eric Clapton (aka "Slowhand") on lead guitar, the great drummer Ginger Baker (also of the classic rock band Blind Faith), and lead singer-bassist Jack Bruce in a trio that made some of the most amazing rock songs of the Sixties.

This is the much-bootlegged Royal Albert Hall show from London, filmed on Feb. 24, 1969. The show has never been released commercially but has always been popular on the underground circuit.